Chapter 13- The Festival of Norns

The Festival of Norns, a festive event that circulates among the seedlings of The World Tree. This Festival, which is held upon every year, but in different cities because the festival is only held when a seedling starts showing signs that saps would come out of the top of the tree.

Though once in every hundred years, all the seedlings would simultaneously produce sap and would mean that a new era starts. The basic things you need to know about the festival of norns have 4 events:

Which is the drinking of the sap towards the newborns The Drinking of sap towards the kids. The Drinking of sap towards the Men and women And lastly the final Dance that will be held on top of the tree where the fire is to boil the saps that were drink would be danced upon till it completely fades.

They say that the reason for such event was because of the written tabled of stone given by the messengers of the Valkyrie Queen, and that it was said that the World Tree directly said to the Queen to hold these festivities in order for the Norns of the Old Tree can see the threads of fate towards the drinkers. And also make the minds of the drinker fresh and enlighten.

Walking up towards the top of the Tree of Wodfel with Ava, I was perplexed by the road that leads to the tree due to the path being oddly well formed as if it was meant to be.

''Hey, Ava they carved this road right?'' as i Stian asked.

''Impossible, they can't possibly have that enough power to that, after all this is the seedling tree.''

''Eh, but didn't they try to burn the tree? It should be easy to carved a road right?''

''Stian, do you know why the holy tree is closely monitored by the Valkyries and their Queen?

''Um, how would I know that?''

'' Then now you will know, it's simply because in order to protect the seedlings of the holy tree, the holy tree has spread its roots and interconnected it directly so that the World Tree can channel protection and harden the seedlings. That's why, since the power was thinned out the Valkyries needed to protect the tree from any harm.''

''Is that so'' I thought for a second after replying, that if the Valkyries were monitoring the world tree, then shouldn't they haven notice me standing top of the tree? Oh, maybe since we can climb on this tree the same thing can be done to the main tree itself?

''By the way Ava, can you tell me about the other continents that surrounds this land?'' ''I don't know'' ''Huh?'' "Sadly, we do not know'' Ava said straightly.

''Why'' I asked.

''Stian, do you remember the story about the warrior tribe of us who tried to take the world tree for themselves?''

''Yes, I still do.''

''It is said that when the Valkyries barren the establish lands along with the innocent children, women and elder's without mercy, a single boat escaped before the rivers evaporated from the flames and told the kingdom of the tribe which the tribe of Oss came from to talk about the done deed. And due to that, the Kingdom of Thornodin was enraged that they cut off of any contact within these lands, black, any seas from sailing in or out of this land and locked this city like a cage.''

''Why did they do that? I thought for sure they would invade and go on a rampage?''

''It's because the King of Thornodin decided that these lands were cursed and full of winged monsters that would slaughter them for a misunderstanding of the taboos of the lands without even giving them reasons why.''

'I see, it seems that each side has it's own side of the story.''

''Well, that's true after all no one really knows what happen. Anyway, we should move along now.'' as Ava moves her pace faster.

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Arriving at the top of the tree we were greeted by the sight of a giant cauldron being filled by a honey looking sap. As we found an area to sit down, Ava and I sat next to each other due to the crowd constantly coming in. Besides us there were kids, teens and infants who were brought by their parents in order to be blessed by the sap that will be given.

In front of us were figures who are using the gigantic branches that have fallen from the tree to light the fire. As the fire rises, the sap inside slowly heats up and after an hour of waiting. The Sap starting boiling and the sap turn from a plain honey into a golden liquid that emits a smell that entrance's the crowd.

Then, as we were smelling the smoke that was coming from the cauldron. A man wearing golden robes started walking towards the platform and raised his hand to silence the people. Then he spoke:

"Welcome to this festive event! An event that is only held once a year in every seedling city! Welcome to the Festival of Norns! Today we have gathered here from the lands away to hold the celebration of giving the sap turn syrup towards these people in order for us to be enlighten and be blessed by the Norns of Fate! So without any due, we shall now start this festival!!!!''

The crowd shouted in joy as the drums were beaten to make a rhyme.

''BRING THE INFANTS!''

As the parents of the newborns heard this, they quickly formed a line as they walk towards the platform! The Man in Golden Robes then ordered to bulky man to gather syrup using a barrel and placed the barrel in front of the platform as parents came one by one.

The Golden robed man took a tiny cup, dipped it to gather syrup and then made the parent of the newborn blow air towards the cup in order for the baby to not be burned by the hot syrup. Then, as the lines go, the parents then continued coming up front.

When the newborns were done. The Golden robed man then called for the young kids to come over. The young kids were in glee as they line up with cups on their hands. The Golden robed then smiled towards them as they lined up politely as the Golden Robed man poured their cups with the golden syrup. Then, as usual the lines go for a long time.

Then after the distribution of syrup towards the kids were done. The Golden robed man then sit on a chair to take a rest for an hour as they also wait for the sap to be turn syrup. The Golden robed man then stood up his chair then look at the young man and women who can't wait for their turn with a smile.

''Then let us begin the giving towards the man and woman! Line u---------------------ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it hurtsssssssssss my armmmmmmmmmmm'' as the golden robed man was suddenly pierced by an arrow.

The crowd was stunned, the only thing that they have heard was the piercing of wind and the blood splattering quickly towards the ground. Right now the golden robed man was golden no more as he cries in pain in his own pool of blood writhing in agony.

When Ava and I saw this. Ava then instinctively runs towards the Golden robed man in order to use her power to quickly heal the man before him bleed out.

''Stop right there!'' as an arrow was fired towards Ava to stop her in her tracks. Then a few sounds of familiar rustling and glares were felt by Stian. A familiar feeling that he had felt in two occasions.

The crowd then started panicking, as cloth masked men wearing gray leather armor started appearing up the branches of the Wodfel tree as they draw their bows towards the guards and the people.

Then a sinister looking man wearing a different armor jump towards the platform as he quickly dispose of the two bulky man that were besides the Golden Robed man! The Sinister looking man then turn towards the cauldron as he flick his wrist towards the sky! As two wyverns appeared from the clouds and landed near the platforms.

The murmurs of the crowd were exactly what is my expression towards these violent people...... Bandits who have come for the golden syrups. Ava once mentions that there were also people who can't get enough of the syrup and sometimes plot to steal barrels of the tree's saps.

Seeing that the wyvern's are probably there to carry the stuff back and forth till the tree stop giving sap. Though the tension of the crown right now is full fear due to the pointed arrows towards us. Though I may look calm, my heart is beating heavily... Though this is not the first time something happen to me due to seeing a same event during my few years as a photographer....

Shaking slightly, I called towards Ava as I urged her to sit back towards me. Grabbing her hands, I can feel that she is slightly shaking either due to fear or anger. Despite her slight resistance, Ava gave in and sat back near me and grabbed my arms.

Though, I do not know what is gonna next... all I can say that right now we are surrounded by a group of people that seems to be bandits and now in a dire situation of life and death.............

The Happy Festival full of smiles and glee's from a moment ago just now turned into a nightmare..